Cheapest car insurance in Iowa for a bad driving record

If you have a poor driving record in Iowa, Travelers, Progressive, State Farm are the cheapest options. Travelers has the lowest annual rate at $1,851.

Having accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, will make you pay more for insurance. Most tickets will affect your rates for three to five years. A DUI can affect your rates for up to 10 years and can stay on your record for life.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Travelers$1,238$1,851
Progressive$1,589$2,081
State Farm$1,306$2,238
Allstate$2,126$2,631
Geico$1,716$2,733
Auto-Owners$1,461$2,928
USAA$1,165$1,652
Data updated in 2024

How much is high-risk car insurance in Iowa?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In Iowa, high-risk car insurance costs $2,496. However, you can get rates as low as $1,851 from Travelers.

Many things can make you a high-risk driver, but some affect your rates more than others. For example, having multiple speeding tickets or a ticket for speeding in a school zone will increase your rates more than a single basic speeding ticket.

Read on as we explain high-risk car insurance factors and rates below.

Select your state and risk factor below to see the insurance company and its
average annual full coverage rates.

Iowa
State
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
*Please select from the list
At-fault bodily injury accident
Risk Factor
1 At-fault property damage accident over 2K1 At-fault property damage accident under 2K1 comprehensive claim for over 2k1 comprehensive claim for under 2k2 At-fault property damage accident over 2k2 comprehensive claims for over 2k2 speeding tickets 11 mph or overAt-fault bodily injury accidentCareless drivingDUI/DWI first offenseDUI/DWI second offenseDistracted driving ticketDriving without a license or permitDriving without insuranceFailure to stopFailure to yieldFair creditFollowing too closelyHit and run - injuryHit and run - property damageImproper turnImproper/illegal passLapse of coverage for 7 daysLapse of coverage for 7 to 30 daysLapse of coverage for over 30 daysOperating a vehicle in a race (highway racing)Passing stopped school busPoor creditReckless drivingSR22 Filing OnlySR22 with 1 DUISeatbelt infractionSingle vehicle accident (so the drivers car only)Speeding 30+ over limitSpeeding ticket 1-10 MPH over limitSpeeding ticket 11-29 MPH over limitTalking on cellphone ticketTexting ticket
*Please select from the list
Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in Iowa, IA is $2,371
Show Graph View
CompanyAnnual premium for clean recordAnnual premium after violation
State Farm$1,306$1,482
USAA$1,165$1,726
Travelers$1,238$1,795
Auto-Owners$1,461$1,931
Progressive$1,589$2,302
Geico$1,716$3,020
Allstate$2,126$3,121
Data updated in 2024
Average annual rate

Cheapest car insurance in Iowa with a DUI

While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, State Farm provides the average cheapest coverage for $1,394.

A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations to have on your record. Not only do you have to pay fines, but you’ll also see vastly higher car insurance rates for up to 10 years. Multiple DUIs will cause your premiums to skyrocket.

The table below compares average car insurance rates with a clean driving record and rates after a DUI in Iowa.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for a DUI
State Farm$1,306$1,394
Progressive$1,589$1,677
Travelers$1,238$1,889
Allstate$2,126$2,794
Geico$1,716$3,087
Auto-Owners$1,461$3,547
USAA$1,165$1,922
Data updated in 2024

Cheapest car insurance in Iowa with multiple tickets

The cheapest insurer for drivers with multiple traffic tickets is State Farm, with rates averaging $1,394 or $116.

While one traffic ticket can affect car insurance rates, multiple tickets can significantly increase those rates. Failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws leads insurers to believe they will eventually have to pay claims due to risky driving.

This table shows Iowa drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium with a speeding ticket
State Farm$1,306$1,394
Travelers$1,238$1,811
Progressive$1,589$1,998
Auto-Owners$1,461$2,252
Allstate$2,126$2,336
Geico$1,716$2,688
USAA$1,165$1,450
Data updated in 2024

Cheapest car insurance in Iowa with a reckless driving conviction

State Farm offers the cheapest rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions at $1,394.

You can be charged with reckless driving for many reasons, such as excessive speed, multiple accidents in a short time or street racing. Regardless of the cause, a reckless driving conviction raises car insurance rates.

The table below compares car insurance rates for drivers with a clean driving record and a reckless driving conviction.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for reckless driving
State Farm$1,306$1,394
Travelers$1,238$1,889
Progressive$1,589$2,148
Geico$1,716$2,663
Allstate$2,126$2,794
Auto-Owners$1,461$3,547
USAA$1,165$1,631
Data updated in 2024

Cheapest car insurance in Iowa with bad credit

The cheapest Iowa insurer for bad credit is Travelers, with rates averaging $1,891 or $158. The good news is that drivers with bad credit can still get affordable auto insurance.

Your credit score may not be related to your driving skills, but it can affect your car insurance rates and put you in a higher-risk category. From an insurer’s perspective, higher risk means an increased chance of filing a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing., and statistics show that drivers with lower credit scores are in this category.

Check the table below to see how your credit score affects Iowa car insurance.

CompanyAnnual premium for good creditAnnual premium for bad credit
Travelers$1,238$1,891
Geico$1,716$2,583
Progressive$1,589$2,666
Allstate$2,126$3,194
Auto-Owners$1,461$3,720
State Farm$1,306$6,462
USAA$1,165$2,005
Data updated in 2024

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in Iowa

State Farm has the lowest average rates after an accident at $1,482. Travelers also offers affordable rates, averaging $1,753.

Drivers with accidents on their driving records see higher rates than drivers who avoid crashes. While car insurance increases after one accident, multiple accidents significantly increase rates.

This table compares rates for drivers with a clean driving record, one at-fault accident, and multiple accidents.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for one at-fault accidentAnnual premium for multiple accident
State Farm$1,306$1,482$1,482
Travelers$1,238$1,753$2,214
Auto-Owners$1,461$1,931$2,280
Progressive$1,589$2,302$2,823
Geico$1,716$3,020$3,439
Allstate$2,126$3,121$4,478
USAA$1,165$1,726$2,631
Data updated in 2024

Cheapest car insurance in Iowa by city

Iowa City has the cheapest car insurance rates in Iowa at $2,074. But the most expensive city is Centerville with rates of $2,628.

Your location in Iowa also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.

CityAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Iowa City$1,351$2,074
Story City$1,461$2,226
Altoona$1,441$2,228
Kalona$1,554$2,364
Lawton$1,567$2,373
Cedar Falls$1,562$2,408
Ely$1,580$2,418
Atkins$1,618$2,475
Des Moines$1,585$2,479
Centerville$1,741$2,628
Data updated in 2024

How to reduce car insurance rates in Iowa for a bad driving record

Finding affordable car insurance in Iowa is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:

  • Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
  • Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren’t added.
  • Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
  • Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
  • Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.

Iowa car insurance laws for high-risk drivers

If you’re considered a high-risk driver in Iowa, you may be required to file an SR-22. This form is filled out by your car insurance company, stating that you have at least the minimum required coverage. The court will let you know how long you must file an SR-22.

Although an SR-22 is typically called insurance, it is only the form. You don’t need special insurance coverage, but rates are much higher for high-risk drivers and not all carriers insure such drivers.

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